Game in a nutshell: Stuck in a three-game losing streak and in danger of getting swept by the Pirates, the Nationals needed their ace to deliver. And boy, did he. Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 batters over six innings, coming up one K shy of his career high (set in his big-league debut against Pittsburgh). A Nationals lineup, meanwhile, that had looked lost at the plate throughout this series came up big at last in the sixth when both Roger Bernadina and Adam LaRoche homered to deep left-center. Relievers Ryan Mattheus, Tyler Clippard and Henry Rodriguez then closed it out, preserving the victory and keeping the Nationals in first place for the 30th consecutive day.

Hitting highlight: Stymied all night by Kevin Correia and seemingly pressing to try to make something happen and snap out of their offensive funk, the Nationals finally broke through in the top of the sixth, thanks to a pair of titanic blasts. Bernadina started things off by crushing a pitch into the back bullpen in deep left-center, perhaps a 440-foot, opposite-field homer. After Ryan Zimmerman walked, LaRoche nearly duplicated Bernadina's feat, crushing a ball just shy of the same spot. With those two blasts, the Nationals took the lead and for the firstRead more »

Yippee!I must confess — and it doesn't make me proud — that I'm feeling a bit more charitable toward Ramos after watching Flores drop and almost-drop a bunch of pitches tonight. For what that's worth.But mostly, Yippee!

Good game. Strauburg is on point as usual. He basically gave up 1 run. I had a feeling Hrod would come through. See, he's not a "mental defective". We have to stick with him till Storen comes back. And if I said it once, I'll say it again: as long as we don't lose 4 or more in a row, we will be fine. GYFNG!

Strasburg was outstanding!When pitching in the clutch, he's proven many times over that he is as good as any pitcher in baseball.We really need to appreciate the fact that the Nats have one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, no doubt :-)Go Nats!They pulled through in a "must win" type of game.

Interesting (after I could start breathing again) to see HRod have n in-between night that was enough, barely. Which reinforces my view that it would be good for HRod as well as the team for him to share closer duties with Burnett. Hardly a low to his ego when he started th season expecting to share with Lidge, Whatis Davy's thing against Burnett — 10 games, 10 Ks, 7.2 IP, no ER?

Nats win! Atta way, Henry! Just saw the top of the first and the last three, but got to see the bulk of the Nats offense, evidently. Will watch what I missed on the DVR tomorrow. (Pirates fans must hate Adam LaRoche.)

Nice win! Very happy for Ankiel, Bernie, and Henry. Flores really called a great game, and was also great with MPHrod, helping to settle him down. I have never been down on LaRoche for last year, but I assumed his "usual slow start." I am so happy that a good guy like that is carrying the load. Harper shows he is still young with the ill-advised throw home, but also showed right away he knew he had misplayed that. I love watching that kid grow.And that Strasburg kid has a right future, just sayin'…..First place! WOOO HOOO (Copyright MicheleS, 2011-2012)

CWJ: ONE of the best pitchers in baseball? I'm going with at least two and maybe more. 1a: if you think they hate LaRoche, how do you think they feel about Stras???MicheleS and all: WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

77% in save opportunities is not considered great, but is better than a lot of teams.Flores almost caused me to have a heart attack. As Johnny Bench told Bob Costis once, if it is close enough for them to swing it is close enough for me to stop, He said no pitch should ever be called a wild pitch when it is swung on and missed, the catcher must do his job. As for the hitting a couple good poles, Espi gets another hit, still below the Mendoza line, so I won't rejoice but will give him a night off from complaining though did still look pathetic on4 different swings.HRod hit the plate better though he loves the breaking ball more than I do. Should have pitched that well tuesday.My biggest complaint tonight is batting Harper in front of Espinosa. I am starting to think I like him at leadoff.

I hope things are starting to settle in with the line up. I know J-dub will be missed on the field, in the dugout and in the clubhouse. Time for them to move on without him and adjust. Games in the SmallPark coming up!

While HRod is 7-for-9 in save opportunities, he's also had four other appearances in the 9th (or 10th) inning where he threw a no-hit inning and for whatever reason, didn't get a save (3 of those times he entered when it was tied, and left when it was tied; the fourth time, he was protecting a 4-0 lead)(and don't look know, but Espi has a two-game hitting streak

"They try to hit the ball too hard," the manager said. "They try to make up for the lack of power we have in the lineup. And I don't want that. We're not that kind of ballclub. Everybody's different. But all of the guys have the capability to be a good hitter."______________________________________This is a good quote. Like last night with bases loaded, Espi just needed to get it out to the outfield and Ankiel just needed a hit. Both tried to hit it 500 feet and both struck out.

1a's point is spot on: if you thought Rodriguez was melting down or middling tonight, you weren't watching. Recorded 4 outs with relative ease, but had to redo on one when Flores straight dropped it.Catcher is my favorite positiob on the field, and I love our two guys, but there has not been very good defenaive play by either of them this year. I wonder what's up with them.(that said, 20 wins! Who's up for 70 more?! GYFNGNatinBeantown